Resurrection Lutheran Church - Retreat & Camp

We are ONE team

 We started the week with prayer, Bible study a game to get to know one another's names and by washing one another's feet.  From the beginning it was important that everyone know and believe that we were one team working together to know, love and serve God and others.

Day 2 - Youth Retreat - Working as a Team

On the second day, we all went to Camp Shalom where we continued seeking God together, building our team and learning to work together.  We participated in powerful teachings and discussions about the disciples and how God used this group of ordinary young people (mostly teenagers!) to change the world.  

In the late afternoon, we worked together to plan and communicate about the parent-child camp that we would be hosting the next day.  Everyone had an important role to play, and we were ready to be used by God to bless these families, loving and serving them in Jesus' name.

Finishing the night with a bonfire!

Day 3 - Serving Together

We all got up early the next day to set up and finish any last-minute details before the parents and children arrived.  It was a wonderful day with lots of fun activities for the kids and their parents - singing, kickball, musical chairs, three-legged race, gunny sack races, crafts, puppets, a drama of the Prodigal Son and more. 

It was a special day for parents and their children and for all of us.  Praise God for bringing us together and making it all possible.  

At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality,

2 Corinthians 8:14

Other Resurrection Highlights

Visiting a Hospital in El Valle

On Monday about half the team travelled to El Valle to a small hospital in a rural area that has a lot of need.  Among the members of Resurrection team were a doctor and two nurses who worked together ahead of time with a local doctor here in the Dominican to learn about some of the needs in this hospital.  With the connections they had back home, they were able to find some things that would be a real blessing to the doctors and nurses and all of the patients they see in this hospital. 



The operating room.



The Post-Partum Room - Where moms and
their babies stay after giving birth.

 Leonel's House

The team also had the privilege of helping Leonel and his family 

A very happy Leonel!

finish the construction of their home.  Leonel's wife recently gave birth to twin girls who were several months premature.  Have a home of their own instead of having topay rent each month is going to help this family in a big way with all of the new expenses that come with having children.    

Praying for families in Km 16 & Playing with Kids

On Sunday afternoon the team decided to take a trip to Km 16 to minister to the children and families there.  They broke into two groups and took turns praying for the families while the other group played with the children.  The families gratefully received the blessing of specific and personal prayer and the children never get tired of playing!

Visiting an Orphanage in Guerra

On the last day of their trip, the team had the opportunity to visit a girls'

orphanage in Guerra where they spent time playing with the children, singing songs, sharing Bible stories and doing crafts.  They were able to bless the orphanage with the funds to purchase a much needed stove.  Here is a picture of how they had been cooking the majority of their meals.

Making new connections in Batey Mamey

Their last stop for ministry was in Batey Mamey where they met a new pastor Rober and got to know a new community that also has a lot of need.  It was both a blessing and overwhelming to see and come to realize that there are so many people all over the island living in such conditions - going hungry and lacking very basic resources that  many of us take for granted every day.  Give us wisdom, Lord, and courage to respond to these people and their needs as you would respond.

For those who are interested there is a very good book available for free this month on Christian Audio called "When Helping Hurts."  Feel free to follow the link and download the book for your own personal study.  Go to http://www.christianaudio.com/